Stevens was repeatedly a viewer favorite, and routinely topped the fan leaderboard throughout the fall season. He is 37 years old, so he was a bit of a dark horse -- at least on paper. But each week, he took the stage and showed the viewers and others like him that you are never, ever too old to chase your dreams and live them.

Upon learning he was the winner, Stevens hugged the runner-up, teenage powerhouse Carly Rose Sonenclar. It was a sweet moment between two competitors.

Stevens immediately thanked God upon taking the crown, and looked to be in a state of shock -- he was a little bit speechless. It's also worth a mention that Stevens' mentor, Epic Records chief L.A. Reid, was incredibly angry when he learned he was assigned to mentor the Over 30s group this season. Reid claimed that he was not a country music fan, but that he is a tried and true Stevens fan, something he grew to be during the course of the show. Sounds like Reid followed the same trajectory as America.

Reid is leaving the show and won't be back next season, so he was able to end his run on the program on a high note with Tate Stevens.

In other good news, Stevens is now the recipient of a $5 million recording contract and he is well on his way to launching his country career. He is proof that it's never, ever too late to do what you want to do in this life.

Big ups to the country community for supporting the singer and voting for him all season long.